William Ernest's Story.
William Ernest Oakes was born in Oakmere, Cheshire in 1889, one of ten children born to William (a carter) and Eunice of 15, Cranford Avenue, Knutsford.
On leaving school he became a chauffeur and lived at 43, Stockwell Street, Leek, Staffordshire.
He enlisted in the army sometime after 1915 and became Private no. 38536 of the 21st Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish).
William was killed in action on the 9th April 1917.
On that fateful day:
9.4.17 ROCLINCOURT
2.30am
B Coy conducted thorough examination of the enemy wire and reported that for the most part this was non-existent in the front of us.
5.30am
Zero Hour The battalion advanced on the 2nd coy front with A Coy on the right and B Coy on the left with C and D coy in support. The 101st Brigade was on our right and we had the 22nd NF (3rd Tyneside Scottish) on our left. The first objective was the BLACK LINE, a system of German trenches comprising 4 distinct lines. NO MANS LAND was about 70 yards across but the Battalion had formed up close to the remains of Boshe wire at pprox.. 4.40am and when the barrage lifted the troops rushed forward to attack. The capture of the first objective was accomplished in about an hour. A message time 6.30am was received from Capt H.W.Waller O.C. A Coy to the effect that KACHEN WERG, a trench beyond the BLACK LINE had been captured by his company.
ROCLINCOURT
The capture was accomplished with small loss. O.C. No. 3 Platoon 2nd Lt R.A. Macneill was killed in the second line of German trenches and 2nd Lts Corlett, Donaghy and Woodcock were wounded before reaching the 1st objective. These latter officers were in command of nos. 1, 2 and 5 Platoons. The 2nd objective named the BLUE LINE distant about 1200 yards was attacked about 7.45am and its capture completed about 11am. Again, casualties in the other ranks were comparatively few but at this time the toll of officers was severe. O.C. commanding 14 Platoon, 2nd Lt TE Bainbridge was killed, together with his Platoon Sergeant while at work establishing a bombing post near the railway cutting. Hostile snipers gave a great deal of trouble at this point, but prompt action was taken to route them out.
O.C. A Coy with a small party captured a light field gun. A machine gun and machine gunner were also captured in an emplacement. Battalion H.Q. moved up to the BLACK LINE and was established. After the consolidation of the BLUE LINE, Headquarters moved again. The night passed fairly quietly but the weather was extremely cold.
Researched and compiled by Tony Davies.